Comparison of Approaches to Obtaining a Transformation Matrix Effecting a Fit to a Factor Solution Obtained in a Different Sample

Abstract : The importance of physical proficiency measures to the selection and evaluation of Army personnel can scarcely be questioned. Examination of the duty assignments prevalent in various Army jobs indicates clearly that physical strength, endurance and coordination are often highly important factors in job success. At the United States Military Academy in particular, considerable attention has been devoted to physical training and to the measurement of various aspects of physical abilities or physical proficiency among cadets at West Point. Various tests of physical proficiency were introduced in the physical aptitude entrance examination procedure or studied for possible use. They have been examined both as individual measures and as component parts of various batteries. Several factor analyses of large batteries of physical proficiency measures, physical education, grades, and other variables were accomplished in previous studies. These studies had as their objective the identification of basic underlying physical ability variables that possess the simplifying statistical characteristics frequently referred to as simple structure. These basic variables, or factors, aid in understanding the nature of the scores, in eliminating duplicating measures, and in suggesting new tests.